So this is KIND OF a major chapter, but not really...notes at the end :P I'm sorry in advance xP

Even the Stars Grow Older

Ten: Conflict Resolution (?)

"Okay, so here's the deal," Chinatsu continued, oblivious to the way Akari's heart had halted its already unsteady rhythm in her chest. "I'm not even going to go into how you've been acting all distant recently, even though I have no idea why because you won't tell me anything," here she fixed Akari with an accusatory glare, and Akari was treated to the odd sensation of feeling both guilty and touched at once, "because this is something…I should have noticed a long time ago." The pinkette's expression turned pained in self-deprecation.

"Um, Chinatsu-chan, I'm really alright, I don't know—"

Chinatsu cut her off with a hand. "No, we're going to talk, and it's going to happen now," she said, firmly, and Akari instinctively knew better than to argue. The serious tone was almost alien in her voice, and Akari had to mentally remind herself that this was the same girl who was obsessing over photos of Yui all throughout middle school. "Akari...about that…boy, earlier…" She paused. There must have been something truly repulsive about him that Akari hadn't picked up on, because it seemed to physically pain Chinatsu to bring him up. "Do you really…not know why he hit on you? I mean…" she corrected, quickly, "not him, necessarily, but...you seemed really surprised that anyone would hit on you. At least, that's what I got from it." She seemed to be choosing her words carefully now, and her brow kept furrowing and unfurrowing, as if she were trying very hard to keep her expression schooled.

Akari blinked. Was that it? "Well," she said, pausing, before deciding it would be best not to skirt around the 'issue' as Chinatsu saw it. "It's not like it's a big deal. I know I tend to blend in with the background, and I'm pretty used to it by now, so I guess I was just surprised. Hehe…" She laughed nervously, because Chinatsu seemed to be losing the battle against whatever emotions she was trying to bite down on. "I mean, it's not that I think I'm ugly, or anything like that, it's just that…I'm not really anything special, you know? I mean, for someone to notice me, especially next to Chinatsu-chan…"

Chinatsu actually flinched at Akari's last words, her sharp features contorting as if she'd been slapped. Akari's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth, only to snap it shut again. It seemed that every time she opened her mouth, she was worsening the situation, so she sat back quietly, fighting back anxious tears, waiting for her best friend to reply.

Suddenly, something warm and strong grabbed Akari's hand beneath the table, causing the redhead to jump, nearly disrupting the food spread out in front of the two. Chinatsu was leaning forward, eyes honest and determined, and Akari unconsciously flinched. She felt her hand being squeezed firmly, and realized late that Chinatsu must have claimed it.

"Don't you ever think that, Akari," Chinatsu said, seemingly unaware of (or, more likely, as this was Chinatsu, unconcerned with) the fact that they were in a crowded area. When Akari finally allowed herself to really meet those ice-blue orbs, she found herself quickly forgetting as well, the many voices around them fading to the background. Then again, she'd always been able to pick Chinatsu's voice from a crowd… The grip on her hand tightened, and Akari blinked, once again focused on the pinkette in front of her. "I mean it. It pisses me off!" she growled, losing some of her composure. "Akari, you're so much more than some background scenery. I know we joked about it back in middle school, but we were stupid back then, okay? Hell, some of us are still pretty fucking stupid—look at Sakurako, for example, I swear to God I've never met someone more oblivious—"

"Be nice, Chinatsu-chan," Akari said, reflexively. She then congratulated herself for being able to say anything even halfway coherent, as all she could focus on was the feeling of Chinatsu's hands gripping her own and how they, like the rest of Chinatsu, were much stronger than they appeared, and how that sweet scent was invading her mind.

She shook her head, hard, forcing herself to sit up straight and, with no small amount of effort, pull her hands from Chinatsu's. The pinkette moved as if to prevent her from doing so, but Akari was quicker—she needed to keep her head focused for this. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worry. It isn't that it bothers me when people don't notice me. I'm used to it. Please don't worry about me." Her heart clenched in her chest. If she became a bother to Chinatsu…if Chinatsu came to her senses and realized that she could be friends with someone who was more fun and more in her league…

Chinatsu's newly freed hands met with the table with a bang, and Akari jumped again, this time banging her knees hard on the wooden underside. "No!" Chinatsu snapped. "No, that's not what I mean! I mean…I mean, you're wrong, Akari! You're important, and you're not invisible—you're cute and gentle and so nice, and…and there's no reason why someone wouldn't hit on you!"

Her voice had broken halfway through her speech, and something in her mannerism told Akari that Chinatsu hadn't wanted to say that last bit, but had forced herself to anyway. But there was no trace of a lie in her eyes—no trace of anything but complete honesty and determination, and it made Akari's heart leap into her throat and her stomach flip all at once. The pinkette was panting slightly, and her jaw was tight with determination, and suddenly Akari could think about was throwing herself into those arms and burying her face in that fluffy pink hair and never letting go. And she hated herself for it, but she had to know, "Ch-Chinatsu-chan…you…you really think…that?"

Chinatsu sighed through her nose, not in annoyance, but almost in relief, and the anger and frustration seemed to leave her body with her breath. "It's not what I think," she said, cracking a small smile and leaning her head on her palm, elbow balanced in the table. "It's just the truth. But yes, I do. And so should you, okay? I'm actually surprised nobody's hit on you before…" She frowned. "Nobody has, right?"

Akari's heart leapt, though she was sure Chinatsu was just being a good friend. "No, never," she replied, flushing. "That's why…I didn't know…I'm still not sure, really. I mean, couldn't he have just liked the outfit?" She glanced down at herself. Kyouko hadn't forced her into anything extravagant this time; it was more of a theme outfit than a costume, and Akari had to admit, she really liked it.

Chinatsu, however, scoffed and rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "Trust me, it wasn't the outfit he was admiring," she replied, though her voice had grown snarky once again. "By the way…since I guess you wouldn't know, you shouldn't respond to guys like that. They only want one thing." She veritably spat the words out, her knuckles going white around her chopsticks, which were clenched in her fists in what Akari was sure was not the proper way to hold them in any region. "You're so nice, I don't want—"

Chinatsu cut herself off, violently stabbing at some beef and shoving it into her mouth, as if to keep herself from continuing in her mini-rant. Akari frowned down at her own food, her chest suddenly feeling hollow as a thought occurred to her.

"You…you didn't…like him, did you, Chinatsu-chan?" she asked quietly, then quickly followed up with, "Because, if you do…" She forced herself to smile. "I'm sure we could find him. And I'm sure he'd fall for you in a heartbeat…" The roller coaster ride that her insides had been going through had suddenly stopped making her feel light-headed, instead bringing nausea. "Anybody would."

To her surprise, Chinatsu snorted, nearly choking on her food. Once she'd swallowed, she burst into laughter. "Geez, Akari, don't do that to me!" she chided after several long moments, still giggling. "Me? Like that tactless buffoon? Please, he used the oldest trick in the book and he wasn't even good-looking."

Akari couldn't help but giggle at Chinatsu's brutal honesty. Still… "I just thought…since you seemed so upset about it…"

Chinatsu's laughter rapidly died, and the pinkette's eyes once again turned to shoot daggers at her innocent meal. "I…" she paused, looking like she was trying to think of the right words. Akari frowned—it wasn't like Chinatsu to be so lost for what to say. "I just…" She finally huffed, her fumbling turning to irritation. "I didn't like the way that dumbass was looking at you, like you were an all-you-can-eat buffet, and…well, it's not like you know how to defend yourself against that kind of scum. It pissed me off, that's all." She paused after a moment, cheeks flushing uncharacteristically, as if she were just remembering something. "I…I guess I should've made sure you weren't interested first, though…" she mumbled, averting her eyes. Her fist seemed to clench even tighter around the cheap, disposable chopsticks.

Once again, Akari's chest swelled, and she couldn't hold back the fond smile even as her cheeks darkened. "I don't mind," she said quietly. "It's kind of nice…when you're protective of me." She wanted to hit herself as soon as the words escaped her lips. What, was she not being obvious enough?

To her surprise, Chinatsu flushed darker for just a split second. Then the pinkette looked up at her and rolled her eyes playfully. "Geez, Akari, stop saying such embarrassing things," she teased, grinning at the bright blush on her best friend's face. Her mood seemed to have lightened considerably though, and for that, Akari was infinitely grateful, even if it was at her expense.

Even if this is all we ever are…I think I can be happy, as long as Chinatsu-chan is by my side.

But god, she thought as Chinatsu bounced up and winked at her before flouncing away and pushing her way back through the line to buy a couple puddings, I wish we were more.

It was another hour before Kyouko returned and Himawari was able to go after Sakurako.

Searching through the various stalls and crowds, the bluenette chastised herself for running after the blonde at all. Stupid Sakurako was the one who should have been going after her. Really, at least ninety percent of their disagreements stemmed from Sakurako's end, but somehow it always ended in Himawari going to her after she stormed off—Himawari comforting her after one of her tantrums. That, she supposed, was the price she paid for being the mature one. That, and the weight of being completely aware of her feelings and still unable to do anything about it because Sakurako was too thick to recognize her own.

Or at least, so she'd thought. Now it seemed as though perhaps Himawari had read too much into the signs. Or perhaps, a sneaky little voice whispered in the back of her head, you've just been so taken with her that you let yourself assume the feelings were reciprocated.

Himawari bit her lip, hard, willing herself to keep her composure. How could Sakurako continue to be so incredibly thick-headed? After all this time, after all the arguments and insults, how could she think Himawari would still be here if she didn't feel something for the blonde? But that was just it—Sakurako didn't think. She never did. That was always Himawari, who had been aware of her own feelings for more than longer back than she could remember. Always Himawari, who wasn't sure how much longer she could stay by Sakurako's side and not be able to touch her, to hold her now that they were older and she wanted (needed) so much more than the shallow pleasure she got from bickering out the UST.

An unruly head of blonde hair became visible, almost as if it were a beacon, shining against the mass of different hair colors in the crowd. "Sakurako…" Himawari reached out, then pulled back as if she'd been burned. She wasn't entirely sure she could touch Sakurako at this point without pulling her into her body and kissing her until she couldn't stand. Even with her superhuman willpower, Himawari was amazed she'd lasted so long, what with puberty having hit her earlier than most, bringing with it an almost unbearable onset of hormones.

"What do you want?"

Sakurako's reply was strangely muffled, as though she were speaking through some sort of filter. She ducked her head, as if to pull away, but Himawari had reached her in another second and pulled her close to avoid getting lost in the crowd. The chestnut-blonde felt her heart speed up, pounding a painful rhythm against her chest.

"Sakurako, I'm sorry," the bluenette said, her voice gentle and somehow unsuited for such a public place. Sakurako kept her head down, reluctant to meet Himawari's eyes, though her current vantage point against her chest wasn't much better. She had managed to pull her arms up protectively around herself just before the bluenette had grabbed her, leaving her with a buffer zone between herself and Himawari's infernal breasts. Even so…Sakurako flushed hotly as she breathed in the scent of Himawari's shampoo; felt the soft orbs pressing firmly against her forearms. "I didn't mean that..."

"Then why did you say it?" Sakurako muttered before she could stop herself. For a moment she thought Himawari might not have heard her over the dull roar of the crowd around them, but then strong arms tightened subtly around her waist, and Himawari pulled her gently out of the middle of the stream of people walking up and down the aisles. They somehow managed to find a bench—or, rather, Himawari did—and sat down, Himawari's arm falling limply to her lap.

"I just…" The bluenette paused, frowning. Sakurako watched her out of the corner of her eye, instantly huffing and turning away when Himawari looked back at her. Himawari sighed heavily. Sakurako was so thick-headed; she could try a roundabout answer, but that had just as high a chance of pissing the blonde off even more as it did confusing her into silence. And given Sakurako's current mood… Long, slender fingers twined together and fumbled nervously in her lap. "I suppose…I said it because I was jealous."

And there it was. More than ten years of building belligerent sexual tension all leading up to a single, anti-climactic confession. Himawari couldn't believe she'd let it come to this, but at least Sakurako knew. Even Sakurako could put the pieces together from there. Even Sakurako couldn't possibly misinterpret…

"Wait, you were jealous?"

And she'd practically screamed it, of course. Himawari cringed, but nodded once, minutely, averting her gaze, cheeks flushing a pretty magenta. "I…yes. The way you talk about her…"

"You mean, you like Kyouko-senpai?!"

A vein popped in Himawari's forehead.

Not again.

We're not doing this roundabout again.

Enough.

"I- I mean," Sakurako was spluttering now, all limbs and mouth, like a fish out of water, "You can't…but I guess…I mean, it's not like I care, but you should—"

And then, very possibly for the first time in her life, Sakurako was speechless.

Actually, it was more like the words had been stolen straight from her throat. One moment she'd been floundering for words, the next, she'd felt long, slender fingers threading through her messy hair to cup the back of her head, and then Himawari had just leaned over and kissed her.

Hard.

On the lips.

And then Sakurako stopped thinking entirely.

AUGH. Just…AUGH.

I know it's anti-climactic. I'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorry! I suck at writing big climactic scenes…I'm sorry :( But obviously there's more to come. I'm sorry for not making the Akari/Chinatsu climax a lot of you wanted…I just felt that it was important for Chinatsu to address Akari's self-esteem issues so there could be more character development…anyway, thank you for all your support and encouragement! Please remember to review, and I will have the next chapter up as soon as I can. Unless of course this chapter has failed so miserably that you're calling it quits on this story; I know a lot of you wanted something bigger or more groundbreaking. I'm sorry D: Next up will be Sakurako's reaction and more Akari/Chinatsu.

A/N: By the way, please note that for all this chapter is, it was not rushed; the Himawari/Sakurako bit will be continued in the next chapter. I just didn't see a way to continue it without starting a new chapter, and by itself it was too short...anyway, please don't think I'm just trying to get things finished quickly. This scene was meant to be short to add to the effect I'm trying for. That being said, that doesn't mean it's perfect, or even good. Please let me know what you think in the review section :)